Lifesaver assaulted over warning

EVERY beach on the Sunshine Coast was closed for the day and lifesavers and lifeguards did their best to keep people away from the water as much of the eastern seaboard went on tsunami alert.

Despite the risks, thousands flocked to beaches to swim and surf, ignoring warnings a series of large waves could be on their way from the Chilean earthquake zone.

After a night spent monitoring developments in the Pacific Ocean, police, the council, surf lifesavers, lifeguards and the State Emergency Service set up an emergency management centre about 5am in an attempt to keep people away from beaches and boaties off the water.

Area director of Emergency Management Queensland, Jenny Millers, said it was disappointing many members of the public had ignored the warnings despite islands in French Polynesia experiencing waves up to four metres high.

Ms Millers said there had been few noticeable effects, but the situation could have been dangerous.

“We don't make the decision to close beaches lightly. If there is a risk it's our responsibility to protect members of the community,” she said.

“The problem with tsunamis is that they are a hazard that is hard to see.

“They increase undertow, cause erratic tidal conditions and waves become larger. The situation had the potential to be dangerous.”

She said it was important members of the public remained patient and did not “shoot the messengers”, emergency services workers, who attempted to clear beaches.

Throughout the day there were reports of emergency management teams being verballed, with one lifeguard allegedly assaulted at Noosa.

Police had to be called in to assist at some locations, Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast duty officer David McLean said.

"[Some beachgoers] were grateful to be told of [the warning ... but] we had a very small minority who didn't like the advice and said that they knew better,'' Mr McLean said.

"Some of the lifesavers were abused, on two occasions. That was very ordinary, we thought, and very undeserved. Lifesavers were only passing on the information they received.''

Police at Noosa Beach arrested a man for being drunk after he allegedly assaulted a surf lifesaver.

Mike Lollback, the council's community programs manager, said a coordinated effort to keep people away from the water continued throughout the day.

The biggest dangers for swimmers were rips, which were stronger, and waves, which were bigger, but he conceded it was difficult to keep people out of the water.

“We can give people the information and the warnings, but in the end they can do what they want.

“It's unfortunate people ignore such warnings.

“We just want to make sure people stay safe.”

Boat ramps across the region were manned by SES volunteers who urged boaties not to launch their vessels.

In the Maroochy River, patrols were done to ensure boats were correctly moored and boaties on the water were aware of the danger.

Areas from Port Clinton down to the east coast of Tasmania were on alert. Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts warned swimmers, boaties and anglers to stay away from the coast and make sure boats were securely moored.

“There's not going to be a wall of water coming over the horizon,” he said.

“However we do need people to be very cautious, keep out of the water, keep off the beaches.”